Inspired By... Rain

I am playing along with the Inspired By Challenge this week!  I haven't done a challenge in a while, but was inspired by the photo.  I knew I had this image (Tiny Townie Rachel Loves the Rain) stamped out from many years ago, so pulled it out and coloured it up with my Copics.

For some reason I decided to colour in rainbow order!?  So starting with her umbrella, I worked my way down her outfit to her boots, using about 15 different markers.  

I pulled out the Colour My World paper pack from Crafter's Companion for the background paper, and matted my image on some dark brown cardstock.  

The sentiment is from Verve's Rain or Shine stamp set, and is popped up with foam adhesive.  The card itself is 6" x 4 3/4".

Ai Easter Cards

 I'm on the Art Impressions blog today for their Watercolour Weekend post!

I have a couple of bunny-themed projects today, incorporating several of the newest releases.  First up is the 6008 - Bunny Hugs Set.

I started by stamping the bunny, basket and carrot on some smooth watercolour paper, using Versamark Onyx Black ink.  *This was different for me, as I usually stamp with Tombows, but I thought I'd give the black outline a try.  I also wanted to create a background scene, so stamped the wagon from 5597 - Harvest Wheelbarrow Set, then added flowers and foliage from 5825 - Geranium Set and 5919 - Long Stem Floral Set with a little masking.

I painted everything using Tombow markers picked up off of my palette, using layers of colour to achieve the darker shades.  I created a wash of #126 to create the grass, and a wash of #526 for the sky.  After painting the flowers, there was still a lot of white space between the leaves, so I painted in some yellow flowers and darker foliage, then used a black fineline marker to outline my daisy-like shapes.  I also used the marker on the grass to add a few lines of definition. I die cut the Bunny Hugs pieces using the coordinating dies, and adhered them to my scene with varying thicknesses of 3D foam adhesives.  The sentiment is from 5867 - Mini Easter Sentiment Set stamped with Versamark Onyx Black.  I used the 5061 - Square Double Stitched Dies, and the 5132 - Tag Stitched Dies to cut out the scene and sentiment, narrowly matting both with periwinkle cardstock.

My card is 5 1/2" square, and I used the new 6033 - Inspirational Easter PP for the background papers, with the scalloped edge die from the 5543 - Journal Template Die Set on one of them.  I popped up the image after tying a white organdy ribbon into a bow underneath it.  A few irridescent jewels finished things off.

My second project is the sweet new 6014 - MB Easter Bunnies Matchbook set!  I adore making the Matchbooks as they're so wonderfully tiny!

I stamped the five images and sentiment onto some smooth watercolour paper, and painted everything in an Easter colour theme using Tombow markers picked up off of my palette, then cut them out with the coordinating dies.  To create the base, I cut the 5317 - MB Template die from the new 6011 - Basic Teal PP, and cut out the tiny windows on either side.  The Ai papers are so perfect for Matchbooks, as they are two sided, coordinating prints.  I cut the small rug die from the 6010 - Basic Pink PP and glued it onto the floor, then glued all of the pieces in position as shown.  

The 5318 - MB Envelope Die was also cut from the 6010 papers to make a cute little matching envelope.

**Bonus Third Project!**  I'm adding this one at the last minute... I had several extra pieces from the 6008 - Bunny Hugs Set that I had already cut out and painted up...

I had the idea to use the new 5910 - Large Letter Die Set, so I cut it out of some pretty paper from the 5939 - Fairy Garden PP.  After cutting out the letters, I cut them out again from plain white cardstock, which I glued underneath, before gluing the patterned paper letters back in place.  It provides just a subtle texture to the letters, and keeps the focus on the bunny.

The colours that I'd painted on the egg clashed a little with my project, so I just went over the stripes with Copic markers to slightly change from pink & yellow, to be purple and green.  You could easily make this a personalized card by spelling out a family member's name, or just use the word Easter - so many possibilities!

Wildly Cute!

I've been working on a baby gift for the past couple of months... having fun knitting, and then creating a card to go with it.  I haven't shared my knitting in quite a while, and knitting for a baby is definitely a favourite thing of mine.  I found a wonderful book at my library using Cascade Superwash yarn, and knit up a pair of socks, a hat with ears, and a sweet toy.

The hat and socks aren't for a newborn!  So they look a little large... and I'll admit that the hat ears look a little goofy, but they should be cute on a little guy's head.  I really loved making the little lovey, which is just a square with a teddy head sewn on - something to snuggle with.

And for the card, I reprised a card that I'd made 11 years ago!!  The Wildly Cute stamp set from Art Impressions was retired years ago, but I won't part with it, as it makes such sweet baby cards.  The ancient papers are Babycakes from CTMH.

I coloured with Copic markers on Cryogen paper, fussy cut it, and created by background with a little paper piecing.  The image and sentiment are adhered with foam adhesive for some dimension.

Nothing like making something for a new baby - especially when it's for one of my daughter's best friends.

Holiday Mansion

I pulled out a retired Art Impressions set that I had previously stamped to do a little colouring while I watched a video or two... this is the Holiday Mansion with the Garden Set add-on.

It was stamped on Cryogen cardstock which has a creamy cast to it, so I paired it up with some old Carta Bella papers from my stash, and set about colouring the pieces with my Copic markers.  There are matching dies that cut out the windows, doors and small items as well.

I made my background scene with the patterned papers - I love this look!  And it's a great way to use up patterned paper.  It's a little larger than an A2 size, being 4 5/8" x 6".

Uniquely You Valentine

I needed a valentine, and had an extra panel of the January Betterpress Society plates, 'Uniquely You' pressed on some watercolour paper.  Similar to one of my other cards, I pulled out four colours of Distress Ink and painted in the leaves.

I painted a strip of scrap watercolour paper with Picked Raspberry ink, then die cut a bunch of little hearts from it, and decorated my image.

I trimmed down my panel, mounted it on some black cardstock and also pressed one of the sentiments from the set below the urn.  A few black jewels finished it off.

You can get a Betterpress Society subscription from The Papercrafter's Workshop.

Pastel Uniquely You

My third project with the January Betterpress Society set, Uniquely You, is a softer pastel version.

I pressed the upper leaf part in Antique Linen Distress Ink, then used the stencils and a combo of four different inks from Pinkfresh Studio to blend the leaves - doing many in two tones.  The urn was pressed in Lisa Horton Crafts Copper Pot metallic ink.  

The set comes with two flower dies, their centers and matching leaves, so I cut a few of them out in peachy toned cardstock and adhered them to the bouquet, and as an accent near the sentiment.  The sentiment from You Are Everything Betterpress set, was pressed with watermark ink and gold embossed.  

I stitched my panel onto a piece of brown cardstock with my sewing machine, then attached the whole thing to my green base with 3D foam adhesive.  

You can get a Betterpress subscription from The Papercrafter's Workshop.

 

Citrus Bloom Wreath

I've had these bits and pieces of the Citrus Bloom set by Pinkfresh Studio, stenciled and die cut - in my stash ready to go for a while.  I was debating on putting them into a wreath shape, and settled on a crescent moon style of wreath instead.

I pulled out my favourite shade of dark blue cardstock, and decided on a square card with a cut out circle center.  The white background was a bit stark, so I pulled out my Slumber ink that I'd used in the stenciling, and inked the center area of my card base.

I arranged the pieces around the edge of the opening, and glued them down with my Bearly Arts glue, then attached it to my card base with 3D foam adhesive.  I'm using the Serenade Sentiments die set from Spellbinders, and cut the words twice, layering them for a little dimension.  They were adhered into the center of the circle.  I splattered a little gold paint to finish it off.